Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins reacts after his out at second base during the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 22, 2013, in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

SEATTLE--There is a commemorative brick on Eutaw Street in Baltimore bearing Justin Morneau's name and George Morneau's birthday.

It was put there after the Twins first baseman hit a home run out of Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 25, 2004.

"That's probably the only time I've hit a home run on his birthday," Justin Morneau said, forgetting the one he hit in Cleveland in 2008. "He doesn't ask for much."

George Morneau turned 65 last Thursday and was at Safeco Field in Seattle when his son homered on Saturday, ending a nearly three-week power drought.

Two days late, but no matter.

With trade rumors swirling around his son, the elder Morneau was in a reflective mood as the Twins' four-game series against the Mariners ended and he prepared to make the 130-minute drive with wife Carol back to their home in British Columbia.

The Orioles, as fate would have it, are among the handful of teams showing the most interest in the 32-year-old with the expiring contract. If it happens, Morneau likely would be hitting a slot or two behind first baseman Chris Davis, the majors' leader with 37 home runs.

"With Davis and all those guys?" George Morneau said. "It would be ... wow."

Don't misunderstand. The family's wish continues to be in line with that of the son, to find some way that would enable Morneau to stay with the Twins beyond this season.

"You can't give up on it," the father said. "You're hoping he'll stay and finish his career there. No one can control it except for management."

However, as the hours tick down to Wednesday's 3 p.m.

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, CDT non-waiver trade deadline, it is becoming more likely the 2006 American League Most Valuable Player will spend the season's final two months in another uniform.

Morneau's power numbers rank him in the bottom quartile at his position, but the chance to reach the postseason again after several years in purgatory could be energizing for him.

What would a contender be getting in Morneau?

"They'd probably get a pretty good ballplayer," his father said. "I think then he'd probably have a little more depth in the lineup to back him up for hitting, and they'll have to pitch to him. Right now they don't have to pitch to him. That's the tough part about it."

Sixty-five of Morneau's starts this season have come in the cleanup spot. His remaining 29 starts have been split almost evenly between the No. 3 spot and the No. 5 hole.

Protection? At various times this season that has come from Josh Willingham, Ryan Doumit or Trevor Plouffe.

Willingham is on the disabled list, while the other two have struggled for much of the year.

While Morneau is on pace to draw just 46 walks, well off the career-high 76 he drew in 2008, there is no telling how many times he has expanded his strike zone in an attempt to make an impact.

Scouts have spoken in recent days about the bat speed Morneau clearly has lost. Sunday, for instance, he swung and missed three times in his first two at-bats against Seattle right-hander Erasmo Ramirez.

The first came on a 2-0 fastball at 93 mph en route to a meek fly to left on a 2-2 pitch.

The next swinging strike came on a 1-1 pitch at 92 mph in the third inning, and that seven-pitch at-bat ended with Ramirez blowing a 93-mph fastball past Morneau for the first of his two strikeouts that day.

Teams that remain interested in him would be banking on his ability to "cheat" on the fastball and try to use the experience of 11 big-league seasons to guess correctly more often than not. However, Morneau has regularly fouled off pitches in hitter's counts (2-0 and 3-1) this season.

What about those in the game who say Morneau's best days are behind him?

"That's a bunch of baloney," George Morneau said. "I know my son, and he's working hard to prove a lot of people wrong."

So, he can still reclaim the MVP form he showed before the July 2010 concussion that many point to as the start of his downward spiral?

"Absolutely," the father said. "If he keeps staying healthy, he's got the right outlook on it all and he's got his old man chasing him all the time. He and I work together a lot and talk a lot when he's in trouble or whatever, and he goes out and does the best he can."

It was suggested to Morneau that this could have been an uncomfortable season for all parties involved if not for his son's even-keeled personality. At that, the former hockey player's eyes began to water just a bit.

"I am proud of my son no matter what he does anyway," George Morneau said. "He's always been a gentleman. He's always spoken well about everything and he's always given time for everybody to talk to him.

"All I hear from fans and different people is how great my son is with them. That's what makes me so proud. It makes my last name so proud. He's carrying my name on in the future through all of those different things."

And if the rumored trade does happen, whether this week or during the waiver period in August? How will the Morneau family look back on Justin's 15 seasons in the organization?

"Everything has been great," George Morneau said. "The people have been great, the fans have been great, management, the coaches and everything. I have nothing bad to say about them. These guys are like family to me. I'm just proud he got to play with a great organization."

The Twins' offensive record book is filled with Morneau references. A spot in the team's Hall of Fame seems assured, and the only Twins sluggers with more career home runs than Morneau have statues outside Target Field.

"I'm proud of what my son has done in Minnesota," George Morneau said. "He can't control what's happening, and whatever he does, he's going to work his butt off anyways, whoever he plays for. But I bet you his heart will stay in Minnesota because that's the first people that gave him a chance to play in the majors."